Abstract: A structure for supporting and transporting a plurality of pieces in operations of assembling/disassembling and/or change of configuration in a manufacturing line includes at least one support surface; a plurality of areas defined on the at least one support surface, each of the areas includes a respective piece of the plurality of pieces or being configured to house a respective piece of the plurality of pieces; and a plurality of warning devices selectively actuatable automatically, each warning device being associated to a respective area of the plurality of areas.

Abstract: A packer machine for producing of pouches containing loose product, includes a conveyor device to move a band of wrapping material along a packing path; a wrapping station arranged along the path at which the band of wrapping material is wrapped to form a tubular wrap; a longitudinal sealing unit to seal the wrap in an overlapping section of the band; a feeding device with a feeding duct around which the band is bent to form the tubular wrap and which can feed the loose product into the wrap; a transverse sealing unit downstream of the longitudinal sealing unit configured to seal each tubular wrap to form an alternating succession of sealing sections and sections with loose product; and upper and lower sucking device arranged between the longitudinal sealing unit and the transverse sealing unit above and below the path, respectively, with upper and lower suction openings facing the path.

Abstract: A packer machine for producing pouches containing portions of a loose product having: a frame; a conveyor device configured to move two bands of wrapping material along two parallel packing paths; a wrapping station arranged along each packing path at which the corresponding band is wrapped to form a tubular wrap; a longitudinal sealing unit with at least two sealing elements; a feeding device with two feeding ducts around each of which a band is bent to form the corresponding tubular wrap, each being configured to feed, one after the other, the loose product into the corresponding tubular wrap; two movable assemblies, each being mounted on the frame to move along a pressing direction independently of the other movable assembly and supports one single corresponding sealing element; and two actuator devices, each of which applies an elastic force to a corresponding movable assembly independently of the other actuator device.

Abstract: Rigid pack for rod-shaped articles includes; a parallelepiped-shaped container, which houses the group of articles and has at least a lower wall, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls; and a support system arranged in the container and has at least a first containing wall, which is parallel to the lower wall and is provided with a plurality of through holes, each engaged by a corresponding smoking article. The support system consists of a first articulated parallelogram having a frame glued to the rear wall of the container, two cranks and a connecting rod, which only rests against the front wall of the container, so that, while the rigid pack is being manufactured, the support system can be formed with the first articulated parallelogram in a flat condition and can subsequently be expanded by opening the first articulated parallelogram by rotation of both cranks.

Abstract: Folding unit for forming an empty cardboard box; the folding unit has a mandrel, around which a blank is folded to form the empty cardboard box. The mandrel has at least two parts, which are mobile in respect to one another between an expanded configuration, in which the two parts are further from one another so as to confer a maximum size to the mandrel, and a contracted configuration, in which the two parts are closer to one another so as to confer a minimum size to the mandrel.

Abstract: A structure for supporting and transporting a plurality of pieces in operations of assembling/disassembling and/or change of configuration in a manufacturing line includes at least one support surface; a plurality of areas defined on the at least one support surface, each of the areas includes a respective piece of the plurality of pieces or being configured to house a respective piece of the plurality of pieces; and a plurality of warning devices selectively actuatable automatically, each warning device being associated to a respective area of the plurality of areas.

Abstract: A manufacturing machine and a manufacturing method for the production of a filter for a tubular element. There are provided: a folding conveyor, which moves at least one first pocket along a folding path, said first pocket being designed to house a sheet made of card stock and having an inner portion and an outer portion; a feeding station, where the first pocket receives the card stock sheet and engages the sole outer portion of the card stock sheet, leaving the inner portion of the card stock sheet free; a first folding station, where the inner portion of the card stock sheet left free by the first pocket is folded like the bellows of an accordion; and an insertion station, where the first pocket releases the card stock sheet having the inner portion folded like the bellows of an accordion.

Abstract: A manufacturing machine and a manufacturing method for the production of a tubular element, in particular for a smoking article. There are provided: an input conveyor, which moves at least one pocket along an input path; a wrapping conveyor, which moves at least one spindle, which has the shape of an inner cavity of the tubular element, along a wrapping path; a feeding station, where the pocket receives a wrapping sheet; and a transfer station, where the pocket releases the wrapping sheet to the spindle folding the wrapping sheet around the spindle into a “U” shape.

Abstract: A manufacturing machine method for the production of a tubular element provided with a filter at one end, includes, an insertion conveyor, which moves at least one pocket along an insertion path; a transfer station, where the pocket receives the tubular element inside the seat; an insertion station, where a filter is inserted into the tubular element housed in the seat; a tubular inserting body, with the shape of a truncated cone, is arranged in the area of the insertion station; an actuator designed to produce a relative movement between the pocket and the inserting body so as to at least partially place the inserting body inside the tubular element housed in the pocket; and a pushing element designed to push the filter along the entire inserting body until it comes out of the inserting body, so as to insert the filter into the tubular element surrounding the inserting body.

Abstract: Rigid pack for rod-shaped articles includes; a parallelepiped-shaped container, which houses the group of articles and has at least a lower wall, a front wall, a rear wall and two side walls; and a support system arranged in the container and has at least a first containing wall, which is parallel to the lower wall and is provided with a plurality of through holes, each engaged by a corresponding smoking article. The support system consists of a first articulated parallelogram having a frame glued to the rear wall of the container, two cranks and a connecting rod, which only rests against the front wall of the container, so that, while the rigid pack is being manufactured, the support system can be formed with the first articulated parallelogram in a flat condition and can subsequently be expanded by opening the first articulated parallelogram by rotation of both cranks.

Abstract: A method which can be implemented by a computer supporting the configuration changeover of at least one operating area of a machine for packaging products in general. The operating area includes a first device configured for processing a product according to a first predetermined format and/or first brand. The method includes providing graphic signals identifying the first device to be replaced, a storage position in which to position it, a second device configured to perform a processing of a product in accordance with a predetermined second format and/or second brand and the storage position in which it is placed. Moreover, an image guide system is provided which represents a succession of operations to be performed to replace the first device with the second device. The graphic signals and/or the images are reproduced by means of a graphical interface of the computer.

Abstract: Folding unit for forming an empty cardboard box; the folding unit has a mandrel, around which a blank is folded to form the empty cardboard box. The mandrel has at least two parts, which are mobile in respect to one another between an expanded configuration, in which the two parts are further from one another so as to confer a maximum size to the mandrel, and a contracted configuration, in which the two parts are closer to one another so as to confer a minimum size to the mandrel.

Abstract: A machine for packaging fiber material comprises feed means (2) supplying predetermined portions of fiber material (3) in an ordered succession, compacting means (4) by which the portions of fiber material (3) are compacted initially, a feed station (8) to which packs (9) are supplied for filling with the fiber material (3), a filling station (D) at which the fiber material (3) is inserted into the packs (9), and a closure station (E) located downstream of the filling station (D), at which the filled packs (9) are sealed. The machine further comprises fiber material (3) compressing and forming means (7) by which each of the portions of fiber material (3) is maintained in a state of compression downstream of the compacting means (4) for a prescribed interval of time, in such a way that the selfsame portion of fiber material (3) is caused to assume a compact geometry of tablet-like form prior to its insertion into the respective pack (9).